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Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) was an English novelist and poet, heralded for her contribution to English literature during the Victorian era. Best recognized for her novel 'Jane Eyre' (1847), Brontë published under the male pseudonym Currer Bell to skirt societal norms that often dismissed women's literature. The eldest of the surviving Brontë sisters - a literary family that included Emily and Anne, Charlotte was born in Thornton and grew up in Haworth, Yorkshire. Her experiences with loss, hardship, and her tenure as a governess informed her work, marked by its unflinching exploration of social criticism, morality, and proto-feminist themes. Alongside her masterwork, her novels 'Shirley' (1849) and 'Villette' (1853) further solidify her legacy. Brontë's acute examination of class, gender, and identity, coupled with her innovative narrative techniques, cemented her place among the literary pantheon. Though she passed away at the young age of 38, her works endure, stirring contemporary discussions of the intricate interplay between women's inner lives and societal constraints. The compilation 'Austen and Brontës: Complete Novels of Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë & Anne Brontë' underscores the profound influence of the Brontë sisters, alongside Austen, in shaping English literature. Brontë's work remains invaluable to scholars and readers, illustrating the enduring power of narrative to challenge and reshape cultural mores.
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